Live: Elections 2024

PPP’s Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari has told people inside polling stations to exercise their right to vote after the deadline.

“Stand firm and ask for your right to vote,” she said.

The deputy commissioner of Quetta has refuted rumours circulating on social media about missing ballot papers in PB-45.

Upon inquiry with the returning officer, it was discovered that the signatures presented as evidence were fake, he said.

The DC emphasised that the voting process proceeded smoothly at polling stations. Additionally, he stated his intention to file a complaint with the FIA against those responsible for spreading the false claims.

Polling marred by rigging allegations and cellular and internet outages has concluded across Pakistan.

The voting process began at 8am and continued till 5pm.

The Election Commission of Pakistan earlier said that exceptions would only be made for people already inside the polling station.

PTI has claimed that efforts are underway to halt voting in Karachi’s Askari 4. It alleged that only two polling officers were present inside the polling station in the NA-236 constituency.

“Other staff have fled,” the party said in a post on X, adding that polling started just a few minutes ago.

“The Election Commission has failed as always!” the PTI added.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reiterated that polling across the country will end at 5pm.

In a statement on X, the electoral watchdog said exceptions would be made for people already inside the polling station.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has admitted that the interim government cannot “guarantee” free and fair elections. He passed these remarks in an interview with Sky News on the eve of general elections.

Additionally, he told Sky News that there is no attempt to “target a specific party or group” amid claims of pre-poll rigging and candidate harassment.

The JI claims polling stations in Karachi’s NA-236 constituency are overcrowded and over 200 people are standing outside the office.

The post stated that men were unable to go inside and the women who did go inside complained that polling booths for men and women had been set up in the same room and the book of voter lists is missing.

PTI, in a post on their X account, has alleged that PML-N workers are bullying voters in Punjab’s Khushab district.

“PML-N bullying continues even in Khushab, the journey from ‘respect the vote’ to ‘stealing votes by harassing voters’ continues rapidly!” PTI said in a post on their X account.

Caretaker Federal Interior Minister Gohar Ejaz visited various polling stations along with ICCPO Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, Islamabad Police shared on social media.

The officials met the citizens exercising their right to vote and claimed that “people appreciated the security arrangements made by the Islamabad Police”.

The PTI has demanded an extension in the polling deadline, which ends at 5pm.

In a statement on X, the party’s chief organiser Omar Ayub said a large number of voters came out today despite multiple hurdles. “There have been a lot of complaints from the election staff about the delays in the polling process,” he stated.

He added that the PTI would submit a formal application for the extension in the deadline.

Caretaker Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai has said the electoral process in the province is running smoothly until now and hoped that the same would continue until evening.

“The condition is peaceful in the province and people are coming out to cast their vote,” he said, adding that “terrorists have lost”

“Like other provinces, Balochistan will deliver results after 5pm,” the minister said.

The Election Commission of Pakistan said it received 55 poll-related complaints of which 45 had been resolved while work was underway on the remaining ones.

In a statement, ECP spokesperson Haroon Shinwari said the complaints were regarding clashes, which were solved on the spot.

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has said that “the majority of the voters received polling information by messaging 8300”, stating that the electoral watchdog was receiving on average 1.5 to 2 million messages each day.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said that the messaging service had been functional since January 29.

He further said that voter registration details were present with the provincial election commissioners as well.

Fixit founder Alamgir Khan says voting has begin at the Askari 4 polling station in Karachi’s NA-236.

Earlier, several reports of a delay in the polling process had emerged.

Chair of the Commonwealth observer group, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has said he is “quite pleased” with security arrangements across Islamabad.

“We have seen that the government is working to ensure that elections are credible,” he said while speaking at a press conference in Islamabad alongside Caretaker Interior Minister Gohar Ejaz.

“We encourage people to come out and vote because that is the only way you can consolidate democracy in the country,” he added.

Jonathan said a comprehensive assessment of election related security arrangements will be shared on Sunday.

Caretaker Interior Minister Gohar Ejaz has said polling has been smooth in Islamabad and throughout the country.

He made his comments at a press conference alongside the chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

“By the grace of God, voting has been smooth in Islamabad. The camps of every party are present,” he said, adding that he hopes that whichever government comes into power will take Pakistan forward.

The PPP has urged Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa to “issue instructions” on the matter of internet services being suspended across the country, which it says has “impacted voter turnout”.

In a letter, PPP Central Election Cell Incharge Senator Taj Haider said that the party conveyed its “deep concern on the unannounced disruptions of internet”.

Haider pointed out the government’s move was in violation of the 2018 order by the Islamabad High Court that declared the suspension of mobile phone services on the pretext of “security concerns” illegal.

“The closure has also adversely affected reporting and responding to security incidents. One of our workers was shot dead in Mirpurkhas today and it was after an hour that we came to know about the murder,” the letter stated.

It also claimed that “all political parties except PML-N have objected” to the internet disruption. “In spite of our request to ECP to restore services, these services have not been restored.”

Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister retired Justice Maqbool Baqar has expressed satisfaction at the voter turnout in Karachi.

Speaking to reporters in Karachi, he said, “The pattern is the same [during each election] — there are more crowds after lunch. The [number of] voters will increase. Even right now, the turnout is not that bad.”

CM Baqar further said that the caretaker provincial government “fully cooperated” with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct the polls. Ensuring that the polling staff reaches the stations was the duty of the ECP, he added.

The Karachi division of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has said that “massive rigging” is being carried out in the city by the PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

“The shutdown of the mobile services is proof that a plan is being made to bring the desired people. Mobile services have also been shut down to hide evidence of fraud,” the party said.

“It is unfortunate that people’s money is being wasted like this,” it added, demanding strict against those “interfering in the election process”.

Jamaat-i-Islami leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, cast his vote in North Nazimabad and expressed serious concerns about communication disruptions due to the shutdown of mobile services.

In a video posted by the party on X, Rehman condemned the suspension of mobile services, labelling it a shameful stunt. He accused the government of paralysing the communication system on the day of the election.

Rehman noted instances of material being transported to polling stations via rickshaws as late as 9:30am and 10:30am, with several locations experiencing delayed or improper polling commencement.

Talking about polling station of NA-246 Orangi Town from where Rehman is contesting elections, he said that the preprations were incomplete and raised concerns about last-minute changes in presiding officers.

Expressing worry over pre-poll rigging and polling inconsistencies, Rehman warned that such issues could cast doubt on the legitimacy of the entire process.

The Election Correspondence Cell of the PTI in Sindh has urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to restore internet services across the country, saying that it was a “brazen assault on democracy”.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, election cell incharge Barrister Ali Tahir said the internet shutdown raised “serious doubts about the ECP’s commitment to fulfilling its constitutional duties”.

“The pretexts provided by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for these internet blackouts are both flimsy and inadequate,” he asserted.

The statement further said, “The suspension of internet services on polling day represents a clear and brazen assault on democracy and the rule of law.”

“Please treat this as a note of protest and immediately order the restoration of [the] internet,” it added.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has called on the nation to leave their homes and vote in order to participate in changing the destiny of the country.

“Voting is a national duty. I have done my duty,” he said in a post on X.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan’s (MQM-P) Dr Farooq Sattar has alleged that the Gizri police station house officer, in connivance with the PPP, were casting fake voters at a polling station in Karachi.

In a statement, he said that the alleged rigging was taking place at the Government Boys and Girls Secondary School in P&T Colony.

“The Election Commission of Pakistan should take immediate notice of this and stop this rigging,” he said. “I appeal to the management to sack the Gizri station house officer immediately,” he said.

The PPP has urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take action on Shazia Marri’s complaint regarding “attempts to harass voters” at the Berani polling station of NA-209 (Sanghar-I).

In a letter written to Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, PPP Central Election Cell Incharge Senator Taj Haider said that Marri had complained about the opposition candidate recruiting “volunteers through the police at the polling station”.

He urged CEC Raja to “take action” on the matter as per the law.

Caretaker Sindh Information Minister Ahmed Shah has said the decision to block internet and cellular services has been taken by the federal government keeping in view the recent terror incidents in Balochistan.

At least 28 people were killed in back-to-back blasts in Qila Saifullah and Pishin yesterday. Separately, JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah survived a gun attack on his vehicle en route to Chaman.

Speaking to the media after casting his vote in Karachi, Shah said mobile and internet services would be restored if the security situation remained stable.

“It is very important to protect human lives,” he stated, adding that Pakistan’s enemies had kept an eye on the polling day and the caretakers were doing their best to ensure a smooth polling process.

In response to a question, Shah said shutting down mobile services was the prerogative of the federal government. “Definitely, they took this decision in light of security threats,” the minister added.

PPP Sindh president Senator Nisar Khuhro has cast his vote at Khosa Mohalla Rahmatpur School, Larkana.

Speaking to the media, Nisar said that the caretaker federal government should restore mobile phone services to prevent people from facing any problems.

“Keeping law and order under control is the responsibility of the caretaker government, which should not be punished by shutting down the phone service,” he said. “Shutting down mobile phones is a conspiracy to decrease the turnout.”

He urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to “immediately” issue orders to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the caretaker government to restore mobile phone services. “If mobile phone services are not restored, there will be question mark on the results,” he added.

Pakistan goes to the polls today amid despair and uncertainty. For many, the outcome has already been decided, with one of the largest political parties having been effectively forced out of the race. Yet, surprises cannot be ruled out.

Whatever the result, the 2024 polls will have a huge impact on the future course of Pakistani politics. The most important question is: how would it change the country’s power equation?

With the PTI virtually out of the equation, the stage seems to have been set for Nawaz Sharif’s return to power. The resurrection of the three-time prime minister tells the story of the ever-shifting sands of Pakistani politics.

It is, however, not over yet. The polls could throw up many surprises. A large turnout could defy the odds. The return of a large number of ‘independents’ could alter the entire power game. A fragmented mandate could push the country’s politics onto uncharted territory. Sharif’s dream of being crowned for the fourth time may prove elusive. Let us wait for a new episode of the game of thrones post-Feb 8.

Read the full op-ed here.

Grenade attacks were reported in different parts of Balochistan, but polling remained unaffected since there were no casualties, Saeed Ahmed Umrani, commissioner of the Makran division, told Reuters.